2004 NCAA Football Rules Committee Survey Results

Note: There are 235 Division I institutions that sponsor football (117 are I-A, 118 are I-AA); 150 Division II institutions and 231 Division III institutions. This is a total of 616 institutions.

A total of 86 Division I coaches responded (36.6 percent of DI schools).

A total of 77 Division II coaches responded (51.3 percent of DII schools).

A total of 126 Division II coaches responded (54.5 percent of DIII schools).

A total of 289 NCAA football coaches responded (46.9 percent of NCAA schools sponsoring football).

	What is your position? (Choose the option that is closest to your involvement with NCAA football.)						Totals
	DI Coach	DII Coach	DIII Coach	Game Official	Conference Commissioner/Administrator	Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner
Division I Coach	86	0	0	0	0	0	86
Division II Coach	0	77	0	2	1	1	81
Division III Coach	0	0	126	0	0	0	126
Game Official	0	2	0	1048	0	4	1054
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	0	1	0	0	102	1	104
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	0	1	0	4	1	54	60
Totals	86	81	126	1054	104	60	1485

	Rule 1-2-7: Should the committee allow the official line to gain (first down marker) to be a line made by a laser on the field beamed from a station in stadium stands (optional)? Allowing this would eliminate physical chains on the field. Rationale: Would be available to selected schools and could save time in measuring first downs. May also be a guideline for players.			Totals
	Yes	No	No opinion
Division I Coach	40	41	4	85
Division II Coach	35	34	6	75
Division III Coach	44	63	18	125
Game Official	415	550	79	1044
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	33	58	11	102
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	17	30	7	54
Totals	584	776	125	1477

	Rule 1-3-1-e: Should the committee allow the two one-inch stripes on the football to be any color rather than only white? Rationale: Could add variety to the game and perhaps make the ball more visible.			Totals
	Yes	No	No opinion
Division I Coach	8	74	3	85
Division II Coach	10	63	4	77
Division III Coach	15	107	4	126
Game Official	237	712	95	1044
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	15	80	7	102
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	12	36	6	54
Totals	297	1072	119	1480

	Rule 1-4-4-a: Should the committee delete the requirement that requires all players to wear soft kneepads that cover the knees and pants that cover the knees and pads? Rationale: Fashion dictates that some players do not wear kneepads and/or wear pants that do not cover the knees. It is difficult for game officials to observe and officiate this rule.			Totals
	Yes	No	No opinion
Division I Coach	26	56	3	85
Division II Coach	26	47	4	77
Division III Coach	26	94	6	126
Game Official	413	594	36	1043
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	24	71	7	102
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	21	30	3	54
Totals	536	892	59	1479

	Rule 1-4-4-h: Should the committee delete the requirement that all players wear visible socks that are identical in color, design, and length? Rationale: Although making squads more uniformly dressed, the rule has been irritating to some and a distraction for game officials.			Totals
	Yes	No	No opinion
Division I Coach	32	52	1	85
Division II Coach	36	40	1	77
Division III Coach	68	55	3	126
Game Official	576	433	34	1043
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	39	58	5	102
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	26	25	3	54
Totals	777	663	47	1479

	Rule 1-4-5-s: Should the committee delete the requirement that eye shields must be clear unless exceptions are documented by an ophthalmologist? Rationale: Although trainers recommend clear eye shields, the documentation of exceptions has been inconsistent and difficult to manage for NCAA staff.			Totals
	Yes	No	No opinion
Division I Coach	43	40	1	84
Division II Coach	34	36	7	77
Division III Coach	57	64	5	126
Game Official	379	593	71	1043
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	36	58	7	101
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	25	24	4	53
Totals	574	815	95	1476

	Rule 1-4-8: Should the committee allow coach-to-quarterback radio contact, if it is provided for both teams? Rationale: Although expensive, coach-to-quarterback communication would be an asset to offensive teams.			Totals
	Yes	No	No opinion
Division I Coach	47	34	4	85
Division II Coach	30	45	2	77
Division III Coach	48	74	4	126
Game Official	479	438	125	1042
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	20	80	2	102
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	24	26	5	55
Totals	648	697	142	1478

	Rule 3-3-4: When the head coach is requesting a team time-out, should the committee add a rule that requires him to do so prior to the ready-for-play sign? Rationale: It is difficult for a coach to communicate with a game official after the ball is declared ready-for-play.			Totals
	Yes	No	No opinion
Division I Coach	6	78	1	85
Division II Coach	7	66	4	77
Division III Coach	10	114	1	125
Game Official	262	748	34	1044
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	26	69	6	101
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	14	40	0	54
Totals	325	1115	46	1478

	Rules 3-5-2: If the offensive team is in a sideline huddle, following a change of possession or a time out, should the committee allow the defensive team to have more than 11 players on the field waiting the offensive formation? The offensive team would be required to allow time for the excessive defensive substitutes to leave the field. Rationale: Allows the defensive team to match personnel.			Totals
	Yes	No	No opinion
Division I Coach	58	26	1	85
Division II Coach	49	26	1	76
Division III Coach	74	42	10	126
Game Official	673	328	42	1043
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	56	37	8	101
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	41	12	1	54
Totals	951	471	63	1477

	Rule 4-1-3-b, Exception: Should the committee allow a potential kicker, from scrimmage kick formation, kneel to recover an errant snap and then rise and kick the ball or advance it? Rationale: Under present rules the ball becomes dead, which is a potentially game-changing situation.			Totals
	Yes	No	No opinion
Division I Coach	39	41	5	85
Division II Coach	30	46	1	77
Division III Coach	56	66	4	126
Game Official	472	556	15	1043
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	49	48	5	102
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	26	28	0	54
Totals	672	785	30	1479

	Rule 4-1-3-q, Exception: In the situation where an offensive team has snapped the ball and the runner's helmet comes off in its own end zone, should the committee award the ball to that team at the one-yard line? Rationale: It is not equitable to charge a safety because of this dead ball in the end zone.			Totals
	Yes	No	No opinion
Division I Coach	52	19	14	85
Division II Coach	52	10	15	77
Division III Coach	80	15	31	126
Game Official	701	267	75	1043
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	61	13	27	101
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	38	13	3	54
Totals	984	337	165	1478

	Rule 6-5-1-a: Following a valid fair catch signal, that player receives an unimpeded opportunity to catch the ball. If he then muffs the ball, should the committee allow the kicking team to catch or recover the ball? Rationale: Under present rule, this player receives additional protection to catch the ball following the muff.			Totals
	Yes	No	No opinion
Division I Coach	61	19	4	84
Division II Coach	54	20	2	76
Division III Coach	93	26	7	126
Game Official	620	403	22	1045
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	75	21	4	100
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	27	26	0	53
Totals	930	515	39	1478

	Rule 8-3-2: In a try after touchdown situation, should the committee make the ball dead when it is obvious that the offensive team will not score one or two points? Rationale: The defense seldom scores following a change of possession and the opportunity adds confusion to the game.			Totals
	Yes	No	No opinion
Division I Coach	20	59	6	85
Division II Coach	14	59	4	77
Division III Coach	29	88	9	126
Game Official	413	592	38	1043
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	38	57	7	102
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	29	24	0	53
Totals	543	879	64	1478

	Rule 9-1-2-q: Was the committee's rule change to the following a positive change? "No defensive player who runs forward from beyond the neutral zone and leaps in an obvious attempt to block a field goal or try may land on any player." Rationale: Leaping is dangerous for the player and any player he lands on.			Totals
	Yes	No	No opinion
Division I Coach	41	38	6	85
Division II Coach	30	38	9	77
Division III Coach	68	46	12	126
Game Official	508	420	117	1045
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	53	32	17	102
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	25	27	2	54
Totals	725	601	163	1481

	Rule 11-2-1-b: Should the committee allow instant replay of certain plays as approved by the Rules Committee? Rationale: May correct errors in judgment.			Totals
	Yes	No	No opinion
Division I Coach	64	19	2	85
Division II Coach	44	26	7	77
Division III Coach	59	54	13	126
Game Official	620	360	66	1046
Conference Commissioner/Administrator	36	59	6	101
Conference Coordinator of Officials/Assigner	34	19	1	54
Totals	857	537	95	1481